Turntable

ABSTRACT

Turntable provided on circular rails, which may be turned by reciprocating the cylinder mechanisms provided in the turntable and alternately engaging and disengaging a free end of each cylinder mechanism with one of holes provided on the ground along said circular rails.

United States Patent 1191 Maeda TURNTABLE [75] inventor: Kazuo Maeda, Chibashi. Japan [73] Assignee: Mitsui Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd., Tokyo. Japan [22] Filed: June 24, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 482,553

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 27, 1973 Japan 48-76285 [52] US. Cl. 104/37 [51] Int. Cl. B605 13/02; B6lj 1/00 [58] Field of Search i. 104/35-47; 108/22; 105/28, 368 B, 455; 246/378 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,987,008 6/1961 Melmer 104/36 1 June 10, 1975 3,060,865 10/1962 Piotrowski .7 104/38 X 1713,54) 1/1973 Routhier 104/37 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,156,100 10/1963 Germany 105/28 Primary ExaminerRobert S. Ward, Jr. Assistant ExaminerAndres Kashnikow Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Dorfman, Herrell & Skillman 1 1 ABSTRACT Turntable provided on circular rails, which may be turned by reciprocating the cylinder mechanisms provided in the turntable and alternately engaging and disengaging a free end of each cylinder mechanism with one of holes provided on the ground along said circular rails.

1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 10 I915 SHEET FIG.1

FIGZ

TURNTABLE The present invention relates to a turntable.

The object of the present invention is to provide a turntable which can swivel while carrying heavy load thereon.

In particular, the present invention provides a turntable supported by a circular rail having a series of holes provided along the rail for cooperation with cylinder mechanism mounted on the turntable for rotating the turntable by sequential extension and retraction of the cylinder mechanism, advancing the turntable by sequential engagement of the mechanism from one hole to the next.

IN THE DRAWINGS,

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a turntable according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the turntable;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the principal parts of the turntable; and

FIG. 5 is a side view showing operation of the turntable.

Referring to the drawings. the turntable according to the present invention comprises a square frame 2 having beams 1 arranged diagonally across said frame and support frames 3 secured to the undersides of four cor ners of said frame 2. Beneath said support frames are provided sliding members which are mounted on the circular inner and outer rails 4 to support the load. In the center of the frame 2 is provided a pivot 5 which rotatably engages with the cylindrical member ofa center post 6 to permit the frame to turn about the center post. Load is received by two opposed frame members 20 of the square frame, and for this reason, these frame members are positioned at higher level than the other side frame members.

Each support frame 3 is provided with a pair of hydraulic cylinders 7 and 8 serving as driving means. A pair of plates 10 are horizontally projected from opposite sides of each of said cylinders 7 and 8 and each plate is slidably engaged with the corresponding guide groove 11 provided in the support frame 3 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The piston rod 12 of each said cylinder is joined by a universal joint (not shown) to a pin 13 provided in the frame 3. At the other end of said cylinder is provided with a vertical pin 14 which may be vertically slided by the operation of the hydraulic cylinder (not shown) so as to engage with one of a plurality of holes 15 arranged equidistantly between rails 4 on the ground. This cylinder mechanism is provided tangentially to the rails, and each guide groove 11 is provided with a bevel 16 designed in such a manner that the cylinder will slightly rotate when it slides in the groove as described hereinafter.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 5, when one of the paired hydraulic cylinders is extended. the other cylinder is contracted, and each pin 14 engages with a hole 15. When the cylinder 7 is extended, the cylinder 8 is contracted, and this operation is performed in each cylinder. Thus frame slides to the right on the rails in FIG. 5, causing the entire assembly to turn in one direction about the post 6 in FIG. 1. As the cylinder and piston rod are freely movably joined with the pin 13 through universal joint, they offer no hindrance to turning motion of the frame. Thereafter each pin I4 is raised up out of the hole 15, and the cylinder 7 is contracted and the cylinder 8 is extended. Each pin 14 is then engaged with another hole 15, and the above described operation is repeated. Thus the frame 2 is intermittently turned. For turning the frame in the opposite direction, the above operations of each cylinder and pin engagement are contrariwise performed. If four units of cylinder mechanism are operated two by two alternately, the frame is continuously turned.

Thus, according to the present invention, cylinder mechanisms are provided in the rotatable frame in such a manner that the frame may be turned by operation of the cylinder mechanism and engagement and disengagement of the cylinder mechanisms with the holes provided in plurality and in circular arrangement above the ground, so that heavy load mounted on the frame can be easily turned with the frame.

What is claimed is:

I. A turntable comprising circular rails provided on the ground, a frame for receiving a load mounted on said circular rails and turned along the rails, cylinder mechanisms provided in said frame so as to be extended and contracted tangentially to the circle of rotation, a plurality of holes provided along the rails, and means for engaging or disengaging a free end of each cylinder mechanism with one of said holes, whereby the frame can be turned by extension and contraction of said cylinder mechanisms and alternate engagement and disengagement thereof with said holes. 

1. A turntable comprising circular rails provided on the ground, a frame for receiving a load mounted on said circular rails and turned along the rails, cylinder mechanisms provided in said frame so as to be extended and contracted tangentially to the circle of rotation, a plurality of holes provided along the rails, and means for engaging or disengaging a free end of each cylinder mechanism with one of said holes, whereby the frame can be turned by extension and contraction of said cylinder mechanisms and alternate engagement and disengagement thereof with said holes. 